Confidence vs. Courage: What’s the Difference?

People love to throw these two words around—confidence and courage—like they’re interchangeable. But they’re not. And when you’re going through cancer, understanding the difference actually matters.

Because sometimes you don’t feel confident. You feel shaky, unsure, scared out of your mind.

And still—you do the thing.

That’s courage.

The Difference

Confidence is trusting your ability to handle something.

Courage is doing it even when you’re not sure you can.

Confidence comes after repetition, experience, and proof. Courage is what gets you started.

So when cancer pulls the rug out from under your life and confidence is nowhere to be found? Courage is what carries you forward.

Two Takeaways That Might Help

1. You don’t need confidence to take action.

You don’t have to wait until you feel ready. You don’t have to be sure. You just have to show up—and sometimes that’s the bravest thing you can do.

2. Courage builds confidence.

Every time you do the hard thing without being 100% sure? You’re stacking evidence. You’re proving to yourself, “I can handle this.” That’s how confidence grows.

Quick Reframe

Think about a recent time you felt scared or unsure—but took the step anyway.

That wasn’t a lack of confidence. That was courage in action.

You’re doing it more than you realize.

#confidence #courage #mentalhealth